May 2021 Board Report

Personnel moves and the approval of an advanced cannabis production certificate were the focus of Thursday’s Illinois Valley Community College board meeting.

Trustees approved the 10-credit, one-semester certificate to provide students with cannabis business proficiency.

Courses include Advanced Cannabis Production, Introduction to Agricultural Business Management and Greenhouse Management. Cannabis science, business practices and legal compliance will be emphasized in the fall program.

In personnel action, the board approved the retirement of Vice President for Academic Affairs Deborah Anderson effective Dec. 31.

Anderson, hired in 2014, said her tenure was “incredibly rewarding” as Academic Affairs completed a division reorganization, an academic plan, added programs in agriculture, cybersecurity and Medical Assistant, and developed an enhancement plan for struggling career and technical programs.

Trustees also approved the retirement of computer networking instructor Gina Elias after more than 31 years.

In her retirement letter, Elias said, “I have had such wonderful students and have enjoyed watching them progress from struggling with a new, complicated topic to graduating with knowledge, ability and skills necessary to work in an ever-changing field.”

The board also approved:

  • The resignation of Director of Admissions Quintin Overocker effective June 30. “I have been incredibly fortunate to work at IVCC for the past 5.5 years,” Overocker said. “I’ve had the privilege of working and becoming close friends with so many good, kind, and caring people in Student Services and across the college, all of whom share the same purpose: giving students access to higher education.”
  • A one-year contract extension for President Jerry Corcoran.
  • The hiring of nursing instructors Christina Boughton and Samantha Whiteaker, agriculture instructor Caitlinn Hubbell and mathematics instructor Emily Morgan.
  • The resignation of nursing instructor Nora Hamilton effective June 1.
  • Closed session meeting minutes from April 8. 

In other business, trustees approved:

  • Hiring Sikich, LLP for auditing services for 2021, 2022 and 2023. Year one cost is $39,500, year two $40,685, and year three $41,950.
  • Purchase of a 2021 Ford F-350 truck with a dump box and plow for $58,870.

Board members learned:

  • Assessment Center coordinator Sarah Trager and custodian Ben Simpson have been granted leave of absences.
  • Part-time Early Childhood Education instructor Lynne Weber is retiring May 15 after nearly 24 years. “I have enjoyed working with all the amazing students, administrators, teachers and staff and will miss you all,” Weber said.
  • Longtime astronomy instructor Kevin Corrigan is retiring. In a message to Corrigan, Dean of Natural Sciences and Business Ron Groleau said, “You have been a true asset to our division and college over these past 30-plus years. I appreciate your willingness and flexibility to always work with students. You always put their learning first.”
  • Administrative assistant in counseling Becky Biers resigned May 12. “It has been a pleasure working with you and the IVCC staff the past 6-7 years,” Biers said in a message to Vice President for Student Services Mark Grzybowski.
  • Enrollment assistant Samantha Manahan resigned May 5. In a message to Overocker, she said, “I want to thank you for this opportunity and for all the fun we’ve had in the department.”
  • The City of Oglesby requested a pre-annexation agreement to allow it to lease a parcel of college property southwest of campus for a solar farm.
  • IVCC’s 55th annual commencement will premier online at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 22 at ivcc.edu/commencement.
  • The virtual nursing pinning will premier online that morning at 11:30.
  • Adult Education’s ceremony for High School Equivalency (HSE), Integrated Career and Academic Preparation System (ICAP), Bridge and Citizenship graduates will be available online May 19.
  • Corcoran said parts of the college’s vision to create the Central Illinois Manufacturing Academy with three other community colleges will be implemented despite being denied state funding. “I’m convinced many of the activities we envisioned will still come to fruition such as the sharing of curriculum and part-time instructors, contract training and transitioning to courses that meet specific and short-term employer needs.”
  • Prior to meeting with the board’s facilities committee, architect Dominick Demonica will meet with employees on potential changes to the college’s master plan. They include moving dental assisting to a more spacious area to accommodate dental hygiene, expansion of the biology lab, construction of a mock-courtroom for criminal justice, converting the math lab into a nursing simulation lab, and building a salt shed.
  • Trustee Jane Goetz recognized executive secretary Judy Day for 35 years of service and Corcoran for 30 (in 2020). Goetz said Day “has grown up with us” and said Corcoran “exemplifies IVCC’s Core Values” of responsibility, caring, honesty, fairness and respect.